04-07-2004, 11:01 AM | #1 (permalink) |
Rawr!
Location: Edmontania
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Finding meaning in your life without god
Interesting problem. People that have a belief in God or even a continued existence after death can find purpose to their lives, owing to the fact that their accomplishments might be useful to them after they die. But a person that believes that death brings obliteration has a difficult time finding meaning to their life.
To the Atheists, Agnostics, and Existentialists out there: How do you guys overcome the absurdity that is life? Where do you find your meaning? To the God-fearing members of the board: Have you ever had doubts about continuing after death? Any fear that when you die, you might just end everything right there?
__________________
"Asking a bomb squad if an old bomb is still "real" is not the best thing to do if you want to save it." - denim |
04-07-2004, 11:20 AM | #2 (permalink) | |
paranoid
Location: The Netherlands
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Re: Finding meaning in your life without god
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Religious people often comment that things are the way they are because God (insert deity of choice as applicable) meant them to be that way. I actually favor the idea that things are not meant to be this way, they just "happened" to become like this. If life is determined by God, who am I to choose my ways? To please Him? Why? I find meaning in building a nice comfortable life for myself and my friends. Study, find a job that suits me, make a reasonable living and be able to enjoy the little things in life. I'm no selfless individual that volunteers at the local homeless shelter every week, but I'm no scrooge either. I try to stay in between, enjoying my life while trying to help others enjoy theirs.
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"Do not kill. Do not rape. Do not steal. These are principles which every man of every faith can embrace. " - Murphy MacManus (Boondock Saints) |
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04-07-2004, 11:37 AM | #4 (permalink) |
Getting it.
Super Moderator
Location: Lion City
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Why does life have to have a purpose?
For me life is like a long train voyage. There are many stops but no final destinations. The meaning, if you will, is in the process rather than some reward at the end.
__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke |
04-07-2004, 11:55 AM | #5 (permalink) | |
Rawr!
Location: Edmontania
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Charlatan, I didn't mean to say that life needs to have a purpose to find meaning. I just wanted to say that purpose in life will give meaning to it, and Religion provides that purpose, that goal to achieve. I was trying to ask those without God if they found life meaningful without that purpose, or if they found another purpose for life. Silvy, you didn't really answer the question. The things you do have meaning in themselves, but how do they give your own life meaning? Why do you do them, if in a few years you face obliteration and none of it matters anyway? How do you overcome the objective perspective that what you do in your life is so inconsequential?
__________________
"Asking a bomb squad if an old bomb is still "real" is not the best thing to do if you want to save it." - denim |
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04-07-2004, 12:03 PM | #6 (permalink) |
Cracking the Whip
Location: Sexymama's arms...
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Yes, I've had doubts, but even if I am wrong and there is no God, I've lived a good life and I won't ever know I was wrong.
What's not to love?
__________________
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis The ONLY sponsors we have are YOU! Please Donate! |
04-07-2004, 12:18 PM | #7 (permalink) | |
paranoid
Location: The Netherlands
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But, my life has had meaning when I can look back and say: I've enjoyed myself. That's it. Enjoyment in and of itself is what gives life meaning. Wether the enjoyment is in life or after doesn't matter. And I find enjoyment when I'm able (have been able) to make a decent living etc. as posted above. I do not need a prize at the end to congratulate me. Oh and btw, "in a few years you face obliteration" I hope that's at least 50 years away
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"Do not kill. Do not rape. Do not steal. These are principles which every man of every faith can embrace. " - Murphy MacManus (Boondock Saints) |
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04-07-2004, 01:32 PM | #8 (permalink) |
On the lam
Location: northern va
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I believe that it shouldn't matter whether or not their is a god--that you should do the 'right' thing either way. To me, it seems very selfish to do good acts to others if your motivation is to get yourself to heaven. Why not do those same things because people need your help?
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oh baby oh baby, i like gravy. |
04-07-2004, 01:53 PM | #9 (permalink) | ||||
Wehret Den Anfängen!
Location: Ontario, Canada
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Second, how does death imply none of it matters? Death doesn't undo all that has occurred, that which is still is, that which was still was. Quote:
If your existance isn't the penultimate important part of your value system, no matter what your value system is, this isn't a problem. Now, even in most religions they reward you with "heaven" or the like, so I guess you could believe that this was the only option.
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Last edited by JHVH : 10-29-4004 BC at 09:00 PM. Reason: Time for a rest. |
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04-07-2004, 03:02 PM | #11 (permalink) |
Getting it.
Super Moderator
Location: Lion City
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Being an atheist, for lack of a better term, I believe that when I die that is the end of the ride (to stretch my analogy above just a little further).
Knowing this and sharing the same existensial fear of death that we all share (even those that believe there is life after death fear death in this way... it is one of the main reasons to cling to life after death, it asuages the uncertainty that death represents) I take my purpose in life to enjoy it moment to moment. Why wallow in the inevitable? We are all going to die. We could die at any time. Enjoy every moment. Live a good life. Have few to no regrets. I see no need to look to God for this purpose... but that's just me. Silly old atheist.
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"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke |
04-07-2004, 04:07 PM | #12 (permalink) |
Illusionary
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As I am Pagan, I find meaning in the trials of this life and the growth it entails. I think the more I can learn in this incarnation, the less I will need before leaving this form of existance completely. Also I find great pleasure in helping others and learning from the interactions.
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Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. - Buddha |
04-07-2004, 06:04 PM | #13 (permalink) |
Insane
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yes, this is the challenge of the unbelief or to agnostic, unorganized belief :P . well, by analyzing arguments of religious text, you can often find problems in the logic as in any arguments as people live on different fundemental assumption. and if these assumption happen to be incompatible, i believe it is actually quite easy to be a non-believer. plus even by compromising with these assupmtions, one still might find the lack of the "leap of faith" required to believe in a omnipotent God. For example Deist of the enlightenment period who are hardcore empericist believe in God by the argument of design and as many of you know, the famous Pascal's "Wager". yet they refuse to believe in a "supernatural" God as if God created rules of the universe, by preforming a mericle is not God breaking his own rule? Which does not justify the sense of omnipotenet/perfection associated with God. During other times, ultiitarians such as Mills believe God is only important if the God is a God who loves his people and wants the greatest happiness for all. These are just two examples, there are many reasons to believe or to not believe in God. ~ my two cents
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04-07-2004, 06:23 PM | #14 (permalink) |
Oh dear God he breeded
Location: Arizona
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Well, I get along with God pretty good, but I didn't always. So far He hasn't fucked up, so I'll stick with him. But before me and Him had our little convo, I found that there was plenty of meaning in life. I do believe that everyone needs an idea bigger then them to believe in, but it doesn't have to be God or such. For me, it was friendship. I know that when I am long dead and gone, the friends I left behind will be able to look back at the times we had and smile, and hopefully a couple of them can learn from some of my bigger fuck ups without haveing to go through them themselves. That is enough for me. After life or no.
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Bad spellers of the world untie!!! I am the one you warned me of I seem to have misplaced the bullet with your name on it, but I have a whole box addressed to occupant. |
04-08-2004, 01:10 AM | #15 (permalink) |
Crazy
Location: Just got into town about an hour ago.
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I stick around for evolutions sake, there is always more to know and perhaps there's something worthwhile out there that we haven't found. Where's the new wine? Rotting on the vine.
For now, music, poetry, sex, emotion and alcohol.
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Dropping a barbell he points to the sky and says "The suns not yellow, It's chicken!" |
04-08-2004, 08:56 AM | #16 (permalink) | |||||
Rawr!
Location: Edmontania
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alright good point. But I find the almost all religions provide a person with a meaning for life, which I almost see as an easy way out of having to ponder it yourself. Quote:
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It's totally absurd for Bob to be doing this action over and over for no purpose. It also has no meaning and is pointless to continue doing so. I'm trying to discover for myself a real meaning to my life other than the ignorance of how strange it is for me to keep opening and closing the door.
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"Asking a bomb squad if an old bomb is still "real" is not the best thing to do if you want to save it." - denim |
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04-08-2004, 03:35 PM | #18 (permalink) | |
Registered User
Location: Somewhere in Ohio
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Honeslty, I find it to be extremely weak to have to look up in the sky, see nothing and hear nothing, and find meaning there. |
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04-08-2004, 04:10 PM | #19 (permalink) |
Observant Ruminant
Location: Rich Wannabe Hippie Town
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Well, you gotta define atheism first. You can believe in God and you can be an atheist also -- if you construct your definitions correctly.
The Christian belief, at base, says that God is in each of us -- a small spark of divinity. Thus, as you relate to other people, so do you relate to God. If you acknowledge that spark in other people and treat it as divine, and so honor and respect and love and assist other people in their times of need, you are worshipping God. You are also _being_ God. Because if _everybody_ believes it, and everybody treats everbody else like a partial manifestation of God, then we have a world in which everybody loves and respects everyone, no one hurts everyone, everyone rushes to assist everyone else -- a veritable paradise. In a construct like this, a supernatural being per se is not required -- just the belief in one. So in that sense, I believe in God -- as a construct, but as one that almost has a life of its own. Can I live with that "God?" Damn straight. If everybody talked the talk and walked the walk of their religions, a dozen benevolent gods would in effect walk the earth, and what a glorious place it would/will be. |
04-08-2004, 06:17 PM | #20 (permalink) | |
Oh dear God he breeded
Location: Arizona
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Bad spellers of the world untie!!! I am the one you warned me of I seem to have misplaced the bullet with your name on it, but I have a whole box addressed to occupant. |
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04-08-2004, 07:16 PM | #21 (permalink) | |
Rawr!
Location: Edmontania
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But i don't think that's what you are trying to say. The way your argument is coming across to me is that you believe in certain qualities in people- trust, love, dependability, generosity- and saying that these qualities are what people should work towards. Which I find admirable, but does not have to much to do with the topic of the thread.
__________________
"Asking a bomb squad if an old bomb is still "real" is not the best thing to do if you want to save it." - denim |
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04-08-2004, 10:16 PM | #22 (permalink) | |
Cracking the Whip
Location: Sexymama's arms...
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You're looking in the wrong direction.
__________________
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis The ONLY sponsors we have are YOU! Please Donate! |
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04-08-2004, 10:22 PM | #23 (permalink) | |
Nothing
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I dont overcome the absurdity of life.
It is, on the evidence presented, absurd. Quote:
You, I, your computer, the rat thats probably about 10 metres from you, that bit of moldy cheese in the fridge, the dog star, electromagnetism, the sweat under your old physics tutor's armpits (they were always really sweaty, coffee breathed induvviduals, weren't they?) everything. It's all God. It's a perfectly defensible position, if you take the leap of faith in moving from one act of creation to two; i.e. 1. Creation of the deity and 2. Creation of the universe according to the specs of that conscious or unconscious deity. Myself? I apply Occam's Razor.
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"I do not agree that the dog in a manger has the final right to the manger even though he may have lain there for a very long time. I do not admit that right. I do not admit for instance, that a great wrong has been done to the Red Indians of America or the black people of Australia. I do not admit that a wrong has been done to these people by the fact that a stronger race, a higher-grade race, a more worldly wise race to put it that way, has come in and taken their place." - Winston Churchill, 1937 --{ORLY?}-- |
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04-09-2004, 06:24 AM | #24 (permalink) | |
Addict
Location: Where the music's loudest
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Re: Re: Finding meaning in your life without god
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Where there is doubt there is freedom. |
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04-09-2004, 12:29 PM | #25 (permalink) | |
Observant Ruminant
Location: Rich Wannabe Hippie Town
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Of course, this construct of God didn't create the universe. I don't believe in a consciousness that created the universe and all of us -- I can't rule it out, but I'm not putting any money on it. So how does my mindset help me survive without a belief in a creator, especially one who might reward me or give me life after death? Because I believe that I'm incredibly lucky, just to be alive. I do believe that, as a race, we're moving forward to eventually construct something on earth that looks like the biblical heaven. I won't live to see it, but I will -- as you will -- be part of what made it happen. That's good enough for me. |
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04-09-2004, 02:25 PM | #28 (permalink) | |
Oh dear God he breeded
Location: Arizona
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Bad spellers of the world untie!!! I am the one you warned me of I seem to have misplaced the bullet with your name on it, but I have a whole box addressed to occupant. |
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04-09-2004, 05:15 PM | #29 (permalink) | |
Observant Ruminant
Location: Rich Wannabe Hippie Town
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04-09-2004, 10:10 PM | #30 (permalink) |
Insane
Location: USA
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life should not be spent prepairing for something afterward, it should be spent doing what you wish and having fun. I dont mean that you should be completely selfish and everything should be about advancing yourself. I dont believe in God, but I still leave a pretty decent life. I dont do things to get brownie points for some afterlife, I do what I enjoy. Thats all the meaning or motivation I need. Heaven (or whatever) is not the reward for a good life, a good life is the reward.
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I'll bet you $5 that you read the previous word... |
04-10-2004, 01:12 PM | #32 (permalink) | |
don't ignore this-->
Location: CA
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//sorry for the double post
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I am the very model of a moderator gentleman. |
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04-10-2004, 04:07 PM | #33 (permalink) | |
lost and found
Location: Berkeley
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Re: Finding meaning in your life without god
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I am not an atheist, but I don't think God is an integral part of existence. I've come to accept unpredictability and believe that Man is flawed thanks mostly to poor impulse control. The invention of deity may be part of that flaw, especially when one version of Him tell His flock that the whole world is theirs to command, all animals and land theirs to do what they will. I have accepted the liklihood of oblivion after death and the liklihood that the Universe has no purpose but to exist. My goals are my own to set, and I try to enjoy my time while I have it, to learn, to teach, to watch, to act.
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"The idea that money doesn't buy you happiness is a lie put about by the rich, to stop the poor from killing them." -- Michael Caine |
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04-10-2004, 04:08 PM | #34 (permalink) |
Please touch this.
Owner/Admin
Location: Manhattan
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My 'meaning' in life is to simply help people and have a good, fun existence. I don't expect some divine gift for this, only to be remembered after I am gone.
To anyone who would say that it must be miserable to expect to simply cease existance after death, I retort: If you can convince yourself that a higher being is looking out for your soul, then I can convince myself that my life, though *limited*, is worth the effort.
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You have found this post informative. -The Administrator [Don't Feed The Animals] |
04-10-2004, 05:07 PM | #35 (permalink) |
Nothing
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To take "What is the meaning of life?" literally, the answer is Death.
Life means Death. To take "What is the meaning of life" to be "What should i do before i die?" well, that's entirely to do with your own personal beliefs. Believe in a God? Well then, you'd better get busy with trusting in and then obeying the commandments as laid out in The Book, by people who claim to have been in direct contact with the Supreme Being. Those people, as an aside, who would be locked up in a moment and not allowed pens or pencils lest they hurt themselves or the medical staff, in other words (the cleaners and guards can look out for themselves - they're no great loss). No God? Well, then we're looking towards atheist schools of thought. My particular preference is for buddhism, nihilistic buddhism to be precise. We are born, we suffer, we die. I'm just trying to get through to the end as best i can for myself, those around me and humanity in general. Why yearn for meaning in everything? Do nipples have any function on a man?
__________________
"I do not agree that the dog in a manger has the final right to the manger even though he may have lain there for a very long time. I do not admit that right. I do not admit for instance, that a great wrong has been done to the Red Indians of America or the black people of Australia. I do not admit that a wrong has been done to these people by the fact that a stronger race, a higher-grade race, a more worldly wise race to put it that way, has come in and taken their place." - Winston Churchill, 1937 --{ORLY?}-- |
04-10-2004, 06:10 PM | #36 (permalink) |
Rawr!
Location: Edmontania
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tisonlyi, the meaning of life I believe should have no connection with your imminent death. I know this must be contradicting some post I made furthur up in my thread, but I've been thinking about this for a while. What if you lived 1000 years? 10 000? What if you did not die? Eventually you will experience every range of emotion, ecsatcy, exruitiating pain, bitter heartbreak, and true love. All these things would meld together into a nightmare of mediocrity. What just is there to do after you have enjoyed life? It would be... boring.
There must be a greater meaning to life than this hedonism that most people are happy with. To live happily is not to live with meaning, in my opinion. I just don't know if i'll be able to find it.
__________________
"Asking a bomb squad if an old bomb is still "real" is not the best thing to do if you want to save it." - denim |
04-11-2004, 05:16 AM | #37 (permalink) |
I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot!
Location: Upper Michigan
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For me I find meaning in what I do for other people. I want to leave behind a memory with people of a person who cared and did something for them. The students I've taught, the Social Services kids that I've helped, the neighbor that I helped when they needed it, the person I was a friend to when they thought they had none - those people may not hold that memory first and forfront but there will be some times they make think of what I did and hopefully it will encourage them and they may "pay it forward" even.
It's awesome to run into a student I taught several years ago and they still see me as a friend, remember me, and give me a hug. The love I give to others comes back multiplied much more. I want that to continue when I'm gone. That is what gives me purpose. Especially my daughter. I want to give her the best start in life. I want to teach her confidence in herself and respect for others. If she grows up to do those two things, whatever her occupation or other choices in life then I will feel that I have built something that will last when I'm gone.
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"Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma. |
04-11-2004, 03:20 PM | #38 (permalink) |
Nothing
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"There must be a greater meaning"
Why? Because you believe yourself important? There are 6 billion other individuals who might have an arguement for that piece of intergalactic uniqueness you just claimed there, skier. There is _no_ reason, _no_ evidence, nothing save our own desperate reachings to suggest that there is anything intrinsicaly valuable in human life. "What if you lived 1000 years? 10 000? What if you did not die?" Man, the universe works on a completely different timescale to the human mind. The Earth, The Sun and even the damn galaxy we're hurtling around are inconsequencial pieces of a much greater whole. Eventually, it'll all be swallowed up, crushed and ejected as pure energy from a black hole - to become part of the endless vibration that is the background radiation of interstellar space - the only thing in the (very small) sections of the universe that we can observe as yet that stands a chance of making it into the top 20 of "Important Things In The Universe". You are insignificant. We are insignificant. Our knowledge is insignificant. Our future is insignificant. You Will Die. You Will Be Forgotten. Your Race Will Die Out. Your God Will Be Replaced, Then Forgotten - As Will It's Successors. Give Up Your Vain Hope Of Immortality And LIVE NOW. *puff, pant, wipes froth from edges of mouth*
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"I do not agree that the dog in a manger has the final right to the manger even though he may have lain there for a very long time. I do not admit that right. I do not admit for instance, that a great wrong has been done to the Red Indians of America or the black people of Australia. I do not admit that a wrong has been done to these people by the fact that a stronger race, a higher-grade race, a more worldly wise race to put it that way, has come in and taken their place." - Winston Churchill, 1937 --{ORLY?}-- Last edited by tisonlyi; 04-11-2004 at 03:31 PM.. |
04-11-2004, 06:09 PM | #39 (permalink) |
Devils Cabana Boy
Location: Central Coast CA
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my life has meaning even though im athiest, i dont know why you would think i would not think it does? (...?...)
any way my life has meaning even though it will end. the changes i make on the world are significant, and hold meaning.
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Donate Blood! "Love is not finding the perfect person, but learning to see an imperfect person perfectly." -Sam Keen |
04-11-2004, 06:40 PM | #40 (permalink) |
Rawr!
Location: Edmontania
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tisonlyi, the main problem of your argument is that i agree with you. I didn't claim i was unique, or that I wanted to live forever. What I was saying (or trying to) was that people who just want to have a fun/good time and helping others enjoy theirs are just defining their lives on the death that's apporaching. In some part of their minds when they say these things, they think "i'll be dead soon, so I should enjoy life while i have it." I'm not saying it's a bad thing, or even a shallow view- in fact, for the time being it is my viewpoint as well. I'm just saying it's absurd and hedonistic for our lives to be this way. If you remove death, leaving only what fufills us in life, our current experiences are not ENOUGH to me. I feel there should be more to life and creation itself than to spin around and around in cycles of growth and destruction. I know i'm not a special flower, and most likely neither is the whole human race. But the universe? It may just be something one of a kind, unique and worthy of something more. I just have no comprehension of what that could be.
__________________
"Asking a bomb squad if an old bomb is still "real" is not the best thing to do if you want to save it." - denim |
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